Technology Addiction & How it Affects Our Behavior

We all use it. And we all know how much of our lives are consumed by it. We use technology every day, from basic communication to using for school, work, and entertainment. But what are the underlying habits of too much screen time? How do these habits affect our behavior? Most importantly, do these habits lead to "tech addictions"?

One shocking study from Purdue Global stated that: "Tech addictions don't just harm our behavior, it may harm our bodies as well." Some of these harmful factors include putting our bodies into a constant fight-or-flight mode that stresses the nervous system, neck pain and misalignment, digital eye strain, and problems with male fertility.

Certain addictions of too much screen time can even lead to things such as gaming disorder, which is defined as impaired control over gaming, such as the seeming ability to "turn off," which can negatively impact relationships, work responsibilities, or basic daily care.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, young people aged 8 to 18 spend 7.5 hours a day consuming media- and that doesn’t count computer use for schoolwork.” This unhealthy amount of time spent on technology can lead to these severe addictions that affect both mental and physical well-being. 

Another interesting point explains that: “Most of us are simply not recognizing the detriment our addiction has on our psychological health and our performance at work. We don’t acknowledge how our attachment to our phones is sabotaging our relationships.” 

We live in a society where using a device is second nature. It is needed for pretty much every basic use in life. So we are left with the question of how do we not let these devices consume all of our time? How can we restrict ourselves to not be slaves to this invention?

Extra links posted below:

“Digital Responsibility- Technology Addiction.”   

“3 Ways to End Technology Distraction.”